WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MAY 7, 2020 3
Midville school principal brightens students’
day with education-themed raps and jingles
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
AACEVEDO@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Principal Tom Carty of P.S./I.S.
49 in Middle Village is bringing
some fun to his students and
school community wading through
remote learning.
Carty, who’s been the principal
at P.S./I.S. 49 for six years, has created
education-themed cover songs
to brighten the days of his students,
their families and the school’s faculty.
His songs include “Home School
Mode” to the tune of “Old Town Road”
and his latest, “49 Strong!”
“I thought that one was totally
original but my daughter pointed out
that it sounded a lot like ‘The Fresh
Prince,'” Carty said.
Carty said he used to make up
jingles and raps for the morning
announcements while he was an assistant
principal in Bushwick — but
when P.S./I.S. 49’s PTA president
asked him to record the Pledge of
Allegiance so they could play it for
students every morning, he thought
he should take it one step further.
“When we are at school, the Pledge
and morning announcements set the
tone for each day at 49,” Carty said. “I
felt that a recording would not do it
so I did my best to recreate my offi ce,
and have done them live on Instagram
and Youtube everyday since remote
learning began. I think it has helped
us all to maintain something of a
normal routine and start each day
together. The students seem to be
enjoying all of it and I am so happy
to be able to do something to maintain
the sense of community that we have
all worked so hard to establish.”
Carty also began doing weekly
story time and singalongs, and then
he created his own songs.
He said he usually gets his ideas
while doing his morning exercises.
“I guess I just start playing around
with words and phrases in my head
and it just takes off from there,” Carty
said.
When asked how they’re managing
remote learning, Carty said that
while the transition has been tough,
they are adjusting as best they can.
“They have all pulled together and
are making the best of a very diffi
cult situation,” he said. “I spend a
good deal of my day doing outreach
to families and I am amazed at our
students’ ability to remain positive
and do their best every day. They really
keep me going.”
Chris Brosky, a P.S./I.S. 49 parent,
thanked Carty for all he’s doing for
their school community.
“Mr. Carty is doing an amazing job
bringing some normalcy and fun to
the students and even the parents
of P.S./I.S. 49 through his morning
announcements, story times and
original songs,” Brosky said. “He is a
great principal and person.”
Courtesy of P.S./I.S. 49 Principal Tom Carty.
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